Police Seal Off Nairobi as Kenya Marks Gen-Z Protest Anniversary

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Kenyan police sealed off key roads leading into central Nairobi on Thursday as nationwide demonstrations got underway to mark two years since the deadly anti-government protests that culminated in the storming of parliament.

Roadblocks and heavy security deployments disrupted traffic across the capital, leaving many commuters stranded while businesses, schools and government offices remained largely closed. Parliament was also barricaded ahead of the planned demonstrations.

The protests, largely organized by Gen-Z activists through social media, are intended to commemorate those killed during the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations and renew calls for accountability over alleged police abuses.

Clashes were reported between protesters and police in parts of Nairobi, including Githurai, where demonstrators lit fires and security forces responded with tear gas. Several arrests were also reported.

The demonstrations come amid growing frustration over the pace of investigations into protest-related deaths. Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) recently said only three cases linked to deaths during the 2024 protests have reached the courts, while dozens remain under investigation.

President William Ruto has said Kenyans have a constitutional right to protest but warned against violence, looting and destruction of property. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has similarly pledged security for peaceful demonstrators while warning authorities would act against criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the protests.

The anniversary has become a powerful symbol for many young Kenyans, reflecting broader concerns over governance, economic hardship and police accountability as the country moves closer to the 2027 general election.